Cardinal caffarra died

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Cardinal Carlo Caffarra died © Paul Haring (KNA)

The Italian city of Bologna and the Vatican mourn the death of Cardinal Carlo Caffarra. The former archbishop of Bologna died Wednesday at the age of 79. The funeral Mass is to be held Saturday at Bologna Cathedral.

The Pontifical Academy for Life, of which Caffarra was an honorary member, paid tribute to the cardinal in the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano for his "passionate search for truth and his service to human life and the spread of the Gospel". Bologna's mayor Virginio Merola told the Italian daily "La Repubblica": "Bologna has had a great archbishop in Caffarra, we all remember him with attachment and gratitude."

Twelve years as archbishop of Bologna

According to the newspaper, Caffarra died Wednesday morning. He served as archbishop of Bologna for twelve years and had been ill for some time. The cardinal had recently attracted attention as a critic of the pope's letter "Amoris laetitia". Since Caffarra's death, the College of Cardinals still has 221 members. Of those, 120 are younger than 80 and thus would be eligible to vote in a papal election.

Bologna Mayor Merola acknowledged occasional disagreements with the cardinal on ies such as same-sex partnerships, which Caffarra had deemed "immoral". However, there has always been "deep respect for the different roles," it said. Other regional politicians praised the cardinal as an "attentive and clear-sighted intellectual" and a "shepherd who loved his flock". Accusations by media accusing the cardinal of "alleged antagonism to the pope" were nothing compared to his "testimony of unity with the See of Peter".

Funeral Mass in the Cathedral of Bologna

The Archdiocese of Bologna announced the funeral Mass presided by Archbishop Matteo Maria Zuppi for Saturday in Bologna Cathedral. The cardinal's body is to be laid out at the archdiocesan ordinariate beginning Thursday afternoon.

The pope elected on 1. Born June 1938 in the northern Italian province of Parma, Caffarra was considered an expert on theological ies related to marriage and the family; his doctoral dissertation in canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University dealt with Catholic doctrine on marriage. In 1981, Pope John Paul II commissioned him. (1978-2005) to found the pontifical institute "John Paul II".", which deals with ies related to marriage and the family. Caffarra took a critical view of Pope Francis' 2016 letter "Amoris laetitia" on the subject – alongside the recently deceased Cardinal Joachim Meisner and Cardinals Raymond Leo Burke and Walter Brandmuller, he signed five questions ("dubia") about it to the pope.

Caffarra was ordained a priest in 1961; Pope John Paul II. Appointed him archbishop of Ferrara-Comacchio in 1995. Benedict XVI. (2005-2013) appointed Caffarra a cardinal in 2006.

The Catholic and Protestant churches each have offices in Dusseldorf that maintain contacts with politicians in the state capital. There has already been cooperation – now the distances will be even shorter.

"Welcome to our ecumenical WG," says Thomas Weckelmann. "Almost-WG," he adds. A few moving boxes are still piled up behind him. A shelf did not arrive in time. That's why he can't yet put all the books away in his new office in Dusseldorf's Hubertusstrasse.

The view goes directly to the state chancellery. The state parliament is around the corner. It smells of fresh paint. And the work continues. Church councilor Thomas Weckelmann represents the three Protestant churches in North Rhine-Westphalia to the state government, the state parliament and the authorities in Dusseldorf. One floor up sits his Catholic colleague, Father Antonius Hamers.

He represents the five dioceses in the state. The two are the first church representatives in the 16 state capitals to operate from a common house. The building belongs to Caritas. On the lower floors, it operates counseling centers.

Hamers moved his offices here two years ago. This year, Weckelmann sought more suitable premises for his staff. "He asked me if his offices could also be accommodated here," says Hamers. Caritas was in the process of moving its counseling service for the homeless from near Parliament toward the train station. "Then the way was clear," explains the priest. There is much to do for church representatives.

Both churches are big entrepreneurs of charity

Refugee policy, for example, is an ongoing concern for both of them. No one provides as many volunteers in integration work as the two churches. And the full-time employees of the parishes, Caritas and Diakonie are at the forefront of caring for the refugees.

Both churches are big charity entrepreneurs. Together, Hamers and Weckelmann fight with their churches and dioceses for the protection of Sundays and holidays. Last but not least, the clergy see themselves as pastors for the parliamentarians – with church services and with an open ear for every conversation politicians ask for.

Working in the same building shortens the distances to each other. "We have already worked closely together," says Hamers. "Now cooperation has become even easier." And the joint address is a strong signal to politicians, Weckelmann adds.

Both churches agree on most ies

The two churches agree on most ies. And perform together, right down to the ecumenical devotions for the parliamentarians. "Even if we take different positions on individual ies, we act in concert," says Weckelmann. Among the differences, for example, is that the Protestant Church affirms marriage for same-sex partners. The Catholic has reservations about this.

There are also differences in approach. "On refugee ies, the Protestant side is sometimes more vehement," Hamers notes.

"We, the Catholic office, are exercising greater restraint."Refugees are very close to the heart of the Protestant church, says Weckelmann. And Rhenish President Manfred Rekowski is the chairman of the Chamber for Migration and Integration of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) and thus the Protestant bishop for refugees.

Ecumenism works in Dusseldorf

Hamers also comes to talk about different tasks. In addition to political representation, the Catholic office also coordinates cooperation among the five dioceses. The vicars general meet at Hamers every two to three months. He prepares their meetings. They are also his contacts in the day-to-day work. The five bishops meet two or three times a year in Hubertusstrasse to coordinate their work.

Visitors from politics and administration now find it easier to talk to both representatives. "We were delighted that the three regional churches made the move possible," says Hamers.

"It is not a matter of course that the Protestant church moves into a house of Caritas."At any rate, ecumenism works in the representation in the state capital.

The dispute between the Royals and the British press does not come to a halt. In the big reveal interview with US talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey last Sunday had Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan not only harsh accusations against the royal family were voiced – the British press was also heavily criticized.

Using superimposed excerpts of media reports from the "Daily Mail not only made it clear that Duchess Kate comes off much better in the press than Meghan – the English online newspaper was also accused of racist undertones. Regarding these accusations is now a content Anpang of the CBS-Conversation demanded.

Racism allegations: Associated Newspapers demands content pang

The US reporter "Deadline" has received a letter of complaint from Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the tabloid Daily Mail, to the company ViacomCBS Before. The letter specifically requests the removal of "inaccurate, misleading and controversial" content.

Lawyers for the British media company complained that edited images were shown in the CBS special, headlines were taken entirely out of context. The montages of the Newspaper clippings in the TV production were thus falsely "used as evidence to support the claim that the Duchess of Sussex was treated in a racist manner by the British press". If the polarizing interview is to be rebroadcast, the scenes should be removed. A statement from ViacomCBS is still pending at this time.

According to "Deadline" the Reveal interview Viewed by 60 million people worldwide so far. 17.1 million viewers tuned in for the premiere alone.

Duchess Meghan was already involved in a lawsuit with Associated Newspapers

The current media spat follows a legal battle Meghan herself had with Associated Newspapers. Triggered were excerpts of a letter from the U.S. to her father, Thomas Markle Sr., that "Daily Mail" and "Mail on Sunday" had published in 2019. The former actress felt she was misrepresented in the reports and won the lawsuit against the media outlet.

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